Maximizing channel capacity for common downlink channels

ABSTRACT

A wireless access node and method are described herein for improving a bandwidth utilization efficiency of a common downlink (DL) channel when transmitting device-related information included in one or more messages to a wireless device or a group of wireless devices, wherein the one or more messages have one or more transport block formats that meet a coverage class need of the wireless device or the group of wireless devices. In addition, a wireless device and method are described herein for improving a bandwidth utilization efficiency of the common DL channel by receiving one or more messages including device-related information on the common DL channel from the wireless access node, wherein the one or more messages have one or more transport block formats that meet a coverage class need of the wireless device.

CLAIM OF PRIORITY

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.15/837,268, filed on Dec. 11, 2017, issued on May 7, 2019 as U.S. Pat.No. 10,285,198, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser.No. 14/809,987, filed on Jul. 27, 2015, issued on Dec. 12, 2017 as U.S.Pat. No. 9,844,074, which claims the benefit of priority to IndianApplication No. 2161/DEL/2014, filed on Jul. 31, 2014, and to U.S.Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/050,517, filed on Sep. 15, 2014. Theentire contents of each of these applications are hereby incorporated byreference for all purposes.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates generally to common downlink channels inwireless communication networks and, more particularly, to techniquesfor increasing or maximizing channel capacity of a common downlinkchannel by utilizing different transport block formats in the commondownlink channel to meet the coverage class needs of a specific wirelessdevice or a group of wireless devices.

BACKGROUND

The following abbreviations and terms are herewith defined, at leastsome of which are referred to within the following description of thepresent disclosure.

-   3GPP 3rd-Generation Partnership Project-   AGCH Access Grant Channel-   ASIC Application Specific Integrated Circuit-   BCCH Broadcast Control Channel-   BLER Block Error Rate-   BS Base Station-   CC Coverage Class-   CCCH Common Control Channel-   CN Core Network-   CRC Cyclic Redundancy Check-   CS Coding Scheme-   DL Downlink-   DRX Discontinuous Reception-   DSP Digital Signal Processor-   EDGE Enhanced Data rates for GSM Evolution-   EGPRS Enhanced General Packet Radio Service-   eNB evolved Node B-   ETWS Earthquake and Tsunami Warning System-   E-UTRA Evolved Universal Terrestrial Radio Access-   GSM Global System for Mobile Communications-   GERAN GSM/EDGE Radio Access Network-   GMSK Gaussian Minimum Shift Keying-   GPRS General Packet Radio Service-   HARQ Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request-   LTE Long-Term Evolution-   MTC Machine Type Communications-   MS Mobile Station-   PCH Paging Channel-   PDN Packet Data Network-   PG Paging Group-   P-TMSI Packet Temporary Mobile Station Identity-   PTCCH/D Packet Timing Control Channel/Downlink-   RAN Radio Access Node-   RACH Random Access Channel-   RLC Radio Link Control-   TA Timing Advance-   TDMA Time Division Multiple Access-   TMSI Temporary Mobile Station Identity-   UE User Equipment-   UL Uplink-   UMTS Universal Mobile Telecommunications System-   WCDMA Wideband Code Division Multiple Access-   WiMAX Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access

In existing wireless communication networks, the communication betweenwireless devices and wireless access nodes in the network are typicallyhandled by the use of different logical channels. Each logical channelhas its own purpose(s) and is typically mapped onto a physical channelfollowing a certain frame structure in time and frequency.

One type of logical channel on the downlink (DL) is one that ismonitored by a multiplicity of wireless devices, and is also used foraddressing a multiplicity (i.e., not necessarily all wireless devicesmonitoring the channel, but at least a subset) of wireless devices witha message sent by the wireless access node using a single radio blocktransmitted on the channel. This type of logical channel is referred toherein as a “common DL channel” and could include, for example, inGlobal System for Mobile (GSM), the Common Control Channel (CCCH).

In the existing wireless communication networks, the wireless accessnode typically uses the same transport block format (e.g., channelcoding rate and error detection capability) for transmitting a messageon a common DL channel irrespective of the type of wireless device orchannel conditions applicable to any given wireless device. Inparticular, the wireless access node uses the same transport blockformat for each of the radio blocks used to send a message on the commonDL channel, where the transport block format has a generic format thatcan be received by all of the wireless devices that are addressed by themessage.

For example, one possible system implementation of the transport blockformat would be to have the wireless access node choose a channel codingrate that is sufficiently robust to ensure that all of the addressedwireless devices can correctly receive the corresponding transmittedradio block (message) with a certain minimum level of probability (i.e.,regardless of the radio channel conditions experienced by any of theaddressed wireless devices). In particular, to realize a sufficientlyhigh probability of radio block (message) reception by all of theaddressed wireless devices, the wireless access node may use a robusttransmit block coding rate in combination with repeated transmissions ofthat transport radio block (message).

However, the wireless access node's configuration of the transport blockformat according to a worst case scenario regarding the channelconditions (for example) would typically result in a waste of radioresources. This waste of radio resources could, for example, occur whenthe wireless access node makes repeated transmissions (i.e., multiplerepetitions) of a message on a common DL channel according to the numberof repetitions that is needed by the wireless device with the worstradio channel conditions that is addressed by the message while many orall of the other wireless devices addressed by the same message may, forexample, only need a single transmission. This waste of radio resourcesand other shortcomings are addressed in the present disclosure.

SUMMARY

A wireless access node, a wireless device, and various methods foraddressing at least the aforementioned shortcoming and othershortcomings are described in the independent claims. Advantageousembodiments of the wireless access node, the wireless device, and thevarious methods are further described in the dependent claims.

In one aspect, the present disclosure provides a wireless access nodeconfigured to improve a bandwidth utilization efficiency on a commondownlink (DL) channel when transmitting device-related information to awireless device or a group of wireless devices. The wireless access nodecomprises a processor and a memory that stores processor-executableinstructions, wherein the processor interfaces with the memory toexecute the processor-executable instructions, whereby the wirelessaccess node is operable to perform a determine operation. In thedetermine operation, the wireless access node determines one or moretransport block formats to be utilized for transmitting thedevice-related information on the common DL channel to the wirelessdevice or the group of wireless devices, wherein the one or moretransport block formats meet a coverage class need of the wirelessdevice or the group of wireless devices. The wireless access node, bydetermining one or more transport block formats to be utilized in thismanner, has an advantage in that it helps to maximize the use of radioresources when transmitting device-related information on the commondownlink DL channel to the wireless device or the group of wirelessdevices.

In another aspect, the present disclosure provides a method in awireless access node for improving a bandwidth utilization efficiency ona common downlink (DL) channel when transmitting device-relatedinformation to a wireless device or a group of wireless devices. Themethod comprises a determining step. In the determining step, thewireless access node determines one or more transport block formats tobe utilized for transmitting the device-related information on thecommon DL channel to the wireless device or the group of wirelessdevices, wherein the one or more transport block formats meet a coverageclass need of the wireless device or the group of wireless devices. Themethod has an advantage in that it helps to maximize the use of radioresources when transmitting device-related information on the commondownlink DL channel to the wireless device or the group of wirelessdevices.

In yet another aspect, the present disclosure provides a wireless deviceconfigured to improve a bandwidth utilization efficiency on a commondownlink (DL) channel when receiving device-related information from awireless access node. The wireless device comprises a processor and amemory that stores processor-executable instructions, wherein theprocessor interfaces with the memory to execute the processor-executableinstructions, whereby the wireless device is operable to perform areceiving operation. In the receiving operation, the wireless devicereceives one or more messages including the device-related informationon the common DL channel from the wireless access node, wherein the oneor more messages have one or more transport block formats that meet acoverage class need of the wireless device. The wireless device, byadopting one or more transport block formats in this manner, has anadvantage in that it helps to maximize the use of radio resources whenreceiving device-related information on the common downlink DL channelfrom the wireless access node.

In still yet another aspect, the present disclosure provides a method ina wireless device for improving a bandwidth utilization efficiency on acommon downlink (DL) channel when receiving device-related informationfrom a wireless access node. The method comprises a receiving step. Inthe receiving step, the wireless device receives one or more messagesincluding the device-related information on the common DL channel fromthe wireless access node, wherein the one or more messages have one ormore transport block formats that meet a coverage class need of thewireless device. The method has an advantage in that it helps tomaximize the use of radio resources when receiving device-relatedinformation on the common downlink DL channel from the wireless accessnode.

Additional aspects of the invention will be set forth, in part, in thedetailed description, figures and any claims which follow, and in partwill be derived from the detailed description, or can be learned bypractice of the invention. It is to be understood that both theforegoing general description and the following detailed description areexemplary and explanatory only and are not restrictive of the inventionas disclosed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A more complete understanding of the present invention may be obtainedby reference to the following detailed description when taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings:

FIG. 1 is a diagram of an exemplary wireless communication network inaccordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a flowchart of a method implemented in a wireless access nodeto improve a bandwidth utilization efficiency on a common DL channelwhen transmitting device-related information to a wireless device or agroup of wireless devices in accordance with an embodiment of thepresent disclosure;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating structures of an exemplarywireless access node configured in accordance with an embodiment of thepresent disclosure;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a method implemented in a wireless device toimprove a bandwidth utilization efficiency on a common DL channel whenreceiving device-related information from a wireless access node inaccordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating structures of an exemplarywireless device configured in accordance with an embodiment of thepresent disclosure; and,

FIG. 6 is a graph illustrating the simulation results of a performanceof a four burst radio block carrying 184 information bits compared to aone burst radio block carrying different amounts of information bits.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

To describe the technical features of the present disclosure, adiscussion is provided first to describe an exemplary wirelesscommunication network which includes multiple wireless access nodes andmultiple wireless devices, each of which are configured in accordancewith the present disclosure (illustrated in FIG. 1). Then, a discussionis provided to explain in more detail how the wireless access node andthe wireless device each implement the technical features of the presentdisclosure (illustrated in FIGS. 2-5). Finally, a discussion is providedto explain the technical features of the present disclosure when appliedto a GSM wireless communication network (illustrated in FIG. 6).

Exemplary Wireless Communication Network 100

Referring to FIG. 1, there is illustrated an exemplary wirelesscommunication network 100 in accordance with the present disclosure. Thewireless communication network 100 includes multiple wireless accessnodes 102 ₁ and 102 ₂ (only two shown), multiple wireless devices 104 ₁,104 ₂, 104 ₃, 104 ₄. . . 104 _(n), and a core network 106 (e.g., EGPRScore network 106). The wireless communication network 100 includes manyother well-known components, but for clarity, only the components neededto describe the technical features of the present disclosure aredescribed herein. Further, the wireless communication network 100 isdescribed herein as being an GSM/EGPRS wireless communication network100 which is also known as an EDGE wireless communication network 100.However, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that thetechniques of the present disclosure, which are applied to the GSM/EGPRSwireless communication network 100, are generally applicable to othertypes of wireless communication systems, including, for example, WCDMA,LTE, and WiMAX systems.

The wireless communication network 100 includes the wireless accessnodes 102 ₁ and 102 ₂ (only two shown) which provide network access tothe wireless devices 104 ₁, 104 ₂, 104 ₃, 104 ₄. . . 104 _(n). In thisexample, the wireless access node 102 ₁ is providing network access towireless device 1041 while the wireless access node 102 ₂ is providingnetwork access to wireless devices 104 ₂, 104 ₃, 104 ₄. . . 104 _(n).The wireless access nodes 102 ₁ and 102 ₂ are connected to the corenetwork 106 (e.g., EGPRS core network 106). The core network 106 isconnected to an external packet data network (PDN) 108, such as theInternet, and a server 110 (only one shown). The wireless devices 104 ₁,104 ₂, 104 ₃, 104 ₄. . . 104 n may communicate with one or more servers110 (only one shown) connected to the core network 106 or the PDN 108.

The wireless devices 104 ₁, 104 ₂, 104 ₃, 104 ₄. . . 104 n may refergenerally to an end terminal (user) that attaches to the wirelesscommunication network 100, and may refer to either a MTC device or anon-MTC device. Further, the term “wireless device” is generallyintended to be synonymous with the term “User Equipment,” or UE, as thatterm is used by the 3rd-Generation Partnership Project (3GPP), andincludes standalone wireless devices, such as terminals, cell phones,smart phones, tablets, and wireless-equipped personal digitalassistants, as well as wireless cards or modules that are designed forattachment to or insertion into another electronic device, such as apersonal computer, electrical meter, etc.

Likewise, the wireless access nodes 102 ₁ and 102 ₂ may refer in generalto a base station or central node in the wireless communication network100, and may refer to wireless access nodes 102 ₁ and 102 ₂ that arecontrolled by a physically distinct radio network controller as well asto more autonomous access points, such as the so-called evolved Node Bs(eNBs or eNodeBs) in Long-Term Evolution (LTE) networks. Accordingly,the term “wireless access node” may also refer to Radio NetworkControllers (RNCs) and Node Bs (NBs) in 3G, or Base Station Controllers(BSCs) or Base Transceiver Stations (BTSs) in 2G.

Each wireless device 104 ₁, 104 ₂, 104 ₃, 104 ₄. . . 104 n may include atransceiver circuit 110 ₁, 110 ₂, 110 ₃, 110 ₄. . . 110 n forcommunicating with the wireless access nodes 102 ₁ and 102 ₂, and aprocessing circuit 112 ₁, 112 ₂, 112 ₃, 112 ₄. . . 112 n for processingsignals transmitted from and received by the transceiver circuit 110 ₁,110 ₂, 110 ₃, 110 ₄. . . 110 n and for controlling the operation of thecorresponding wireless device 104 ₁, 104 ₂, 104 ₃, 104 ₄. . . 104 _(n).The transceiver circuit 110 ₁, 110 ₂, 110 ₃, 110 ₄. . . 110 n mayinclude a transmitter 114 ₁, 114 ₂, 114 ₃, 114 ₄. . . 114 n and areceiver 116 ₁, 116 ₂, 116 ₃, 116 ₄. . . 116 _(n), which may operateaccording to any standard, e.g., the GSM/EDGE standard. The processingcircuit 112 ₁, 112 ₂, 112 ₃, 112 ₄. . . 112 n may include a processor118 ₁, 118 ₂, 118 ₃, 118 ₄. . . 118 _(n) and a memory 120 ₁, 120 ₂, 120₃, 120 ₄. . . 120 _(n) for storing program code for controlling theoperation of the corresponding wireless device 104 ₁, 104 ₂, 104 ₃, 104₄. . . 104 _(n). The program code may include code for performing theprocedures (e.g., identifying a transport block format of multipletransport block formats included in a common downlink channel;determining values for properties of a transport block format; receivinginformation common to multiple wireless devices; receivingdevice-specific information; and identifying, from a transport blockformat, information allowing unique identification of common informationcorresponding to device-specific information) as described hereinafter.

Each wireless access node 102 ₁ and 102 ₂ may include a transceivercircuit 122 ₁ and 122 ₂ for communicating with wireless devices 104 ₁,104 ₂, 104 ₃, 104 ₄. . . 104 _(n), a processing circuit 124 ₁ and 124 ₂for processing signals transmitted from and received by the transceivercircuit 122 ₁ and 122 ₂ and for controlling the operation of thecorresponding wireless access node 102 ₁ and 102 ₂, and a networkinterface 126 ₁ and 126 ₂ for communicating with the core network 106(e.g., via core network nodes such as Serving GPRS Support Nodes (SGSNs)in GPRS or Mobility Management Entity (MMEs) in LTE). The transceivercircuit 122 ₁ and 122 ₂ may include a transmitter 128 ₁ and 128 ₂ and areceiver 130 ₁ and 130 ₂, which may operate according to any standard,e.g., the GSM/EDGE standard. The processing circuit 124 ₁ and 124 ₂ mayinclude a processor 132 ₁ and 132 ₂ and a memory 134 ₁ and 134 ₂ forstoring program code for controlling the operation of the correspondingwireless access node 102 ₁ and 102 ₂. The program code may include codefor performing the procedures (e.g., determining coverage class for oneor more wireless devices; determining respective values for propertiesof different transport block formats; determining different transportblock formats for including in a common downlink channel; formatting acommon downlink channel to include different transport block formats;identifying/extracting/sending information common to multiple wirelessdevices; identifying/extracting/sending wireless device-specificinformation; adding to or formatting transport block formats to includeinformation that allows each of multiple wireless devices to uniquelyidentify which common information corresponds to its device-specificinformation; and determining a number of repetitions for transmittinginformation to a particular wireless device or group of wirelessdevices) as described hereinafter.

Technical Features of Present Disclosure

In the present disclosure, a scenario of interest is where N wirelessdevices 104 ₂, 104 ₃, 104 ₄(for example) are performing proceduresduring which they are attempting to read information (e.g., messages) onthe DL of a common DL channel within the same time interval. It isproposed herein for the wireless access node 102 ₂ (for example) todetermine and utilize/adopt different transport block formats in acommon DL control channel to meet the coverage class need of eachspecific user (e.g., wireless device 104 ₂) or a group of users (e.g.,wireless devices 104 ₃ and 104 ₄with the same coverage class) attemptingto read messages on the common DL control channel utilizing thedetermined different transport block formats, thereby improvingbandwidth utilization efficiency on the common DL control channel whencompared to the case where the wireless access node simply assumes thewireless devices are in the worst coverage class when utilizing/adoptingtransport block formats.

The term “transport block format” used herein refers to the way in whichdevice-related information (e.g., messages) in the common DL channel istransmitted including, but not limited to:

-   -   the number of payload bits (i.e., message information bits) per        transport block;    -   transport block modulation type;    -   transport block coding rate, which affects the number of payload        bits per transport block;    -   time duration of the transport block (i.e., time interval        spanned by the transmitted block); and    -   if repetitions are used to achieve a lower transport block        coding rate (i.e., allowing more payload bits per transport        block), the number of transport block repetitions of a        pre-defined format.

The term “coverage class” as used herein can be defined as follows: Thecoverage class of any given wireless device is essentially a measure ofits current radio environment such that a wireless device in the worstcoverage class supported by the network will need to make use of themost robust transport block format to help ensure that the wirelessdevice remains operational. Conversely, wireless devices in the bestcoverage class will remain operational when the least robust transportblock format is used. Additional transport block formats can be used forwireless devices that experience radio conditions worse than those ofwireless devices in the best coverage class. At any point in time awireless device belongs to a specific coverage class which determinesthe total number of blind transmissions to be used when receiving radioblocks. A coverage class applicable at any point in time can differbetween different logical channels. Upon initiating a system access, awireless access node determines the coverage class applicable to theRACH/AGCH based on estimating the number of blind repetitions of a radioblock needed by the wireless device's receiver to experience a BLER(block error rate) of approximately 10%. The wireless access nodedetermines the coverage class to be used by a wireless device on itsassigned packet channel resources based on estimating the number ofblind repetitions of a radio block needed to satisfy a target BLER andconsidering the number of HARQ retransmissions (of a radio block) thatwill, on average, result from using that target BLER.

Furthermore, in accordance with an alternative technical feature of thepresent disclosure, if a message normally sent on the common DL channelincludes information common to a multiplicity of the wireless devices104 ₃ and 104 ₄(for example) monitoring that channel and addressed bythat same message, it is proposed that the following alternativeapproach can be used by the wireless access node 102 ₂ (for example) fordelivering the message content to the group of wireless devices 104 ₃and 104 ₄(for example):

-   -   extract the common information 213 that is applicable to the        group of wireless devices 104 ₃ and 104 ₄(for example) from the        device-related information 209 and transmit the common        information 213 included in a message 215 using a transport        block format that all of the addressed wireless devices 104 ₃        and 104 ₄(for example) can decode;    -   extract the device-specific information 217 a and 217 b from the        device-related information 209 and transmit the device-specific        information 217 a and 217 b included in messages 219 a and 219 b        respectively using a transport block format applicable to that        respective wireless device 104 ₃ or 104 ₄(for example) alone;        and    -   include information 221 in each transport block (message 219 a        and 219 b ) including the device-specific information 217 a and        217 b and in the transport block(s) (messages(s) 215) including        the common information 213 that allows each wireless device 104        ₃ and 104 ₄(for example) to uniquely identify the transport        block(s) (message(s) 215) including the common information 213        that corresponds to the transport block (message 219 a and 219 b        ) including its device-specific information.

Using this alternative technical feature of sending information to Nwireless devices 104 ₃ and 104 ₄(for example) on a common DL channelallows for the use of fewer radio resources when compared to what wouldbe required without such a separation of device-related information.

The following are some advantages associated with using the firsttechnical feature (one embodiment) and the alternative technical feature(alternative embodiment) of the present disclosure:

-   -   Efficient usage of common DL channel in the wireless        communication network 100.    -   Increased number of wireless devices addressable by the same        common DL channel per unit of time.    -   Ensuring a Block Error Rate (BLER) performance similar to that        of a legacy coding scheme CS-1 coded radio block for information        received using the new transport block formats.    -   Improved wireless device power saving when receiving information        addressed to the wireless device on the common DL channel.

-   The technical features of the present disclosure help to exploit    these advantages in various ways, as described in the following    examples:

-   (a) Optimum resource utilization: as each instance of information    transmission consumes some available radio resources (e.g., time    slot and frequency), transmitting the needed information using more    radio resources than necessary is a waste of these scarce radio    resources. As such, transmitting the needed information using    device-appropriate transport blocks (messages) per the present    disclosure is a preferred way of information transmission. This can    be realized, for example, by introducing transport blocks (messages)    that have a reduced number of information (i.e., payload) bits per    burst compared to legacy operation, wherein for legacy operation the    number of information bits per burst is determined based on the    assumption that multiple instances of these bursts will be repeated    and potentially include information addressing multiple devices. If    transport blocks (messages) are instead realized using a single    burst (which may be sufficient for cases where a small volume of    payload information needs to be sent to a given wireless device)    with the intent of the information carried therein only addressing a    single wireless device, then better common DL control channel    resource usage and capacity improvement becomes possible. This will    be especially true for systems where transport block (message)    repetitions will range from a single repetition for wireless devices    in the best coverage class to X repetitions (e.g., 16) for wireless    devices in the worst coverage class.

-   (b) Wireless device power saving: the disclosed techniques provide a    clear advantage of wireless device power saving. For receiving a    transport block in GSM, which is referred to as a radio block and    transmitted over four bursts (spread over four Time Division    Multiple Access (TDMA) frames, each consisting of eight timeslots),    a wireless device will typically consume: V_(cc)*I_(avg)*T=(3.3 V) *    (50,000 μA) * (4*577 μs)+(3.3V)*(1000 μA) * (28*577 μs)=434.13 μJ.    Whereas, for receiving a transport block that is transmitted over a    single burst, a wireless device will typically consume:    V_(cc)*I_(avg)*T=(3.3 V) * (50,000 μA) * (1*577 μs)=95.2 μJ. Thus,    the power saving ratio per transport block will be approximately    4:1.

The term “radio block” is used herein and can be defined as follows: amessage is sent using one or more radio blocks where each radio blockmay be transmitted using multiple repetitions at the physical layer(e.g., a legacy RLC data block is a radio block sent using four bursts).One or more radio blocks are used to send a message where each radioblock in the set makes use of the same transport block format (e.g. samemodulation scheme, same channel coding scheme, and the same number ofrepetitions per radio block). The radio resources are shared but aretypically used to send a message to one wireless device at a time byincluding unique information in each radio block header to indicate theintended wireless device. However, the concept of group messaging alsoexists where information in each radio block header indicates the groupof wireless devices for which the message is intended. The case whereseveral messages (each message sent using a set of one or more radioblocks) are addressed to different wireless devices using the groupmessaging concept is possible but is not very typical, i.e., the moretypical concept involves sending a single message to a single wirelessdevice or to a group of wireless devices using a corresponding set ofradio blocks.

Referring to FIG. 2, there is a flowchart of a method 200 implemented ina wireless access node 102 ₂ (for example) for improving a bandwidthutilization efficiency on a common DL channel when transmittingdevice-related information to a wireless device 104 ₂ (for example) or agroup of wireless devices 104 ₃ and 104 ₄(for example) in accordancewith an embodiment of the present disclosure. At step 202, the wirelessaccess node 102 ₂ determines one or more transport block formats to beutilized for transmitting the device-related information on the commonDL channel to the wireless device 104 ₂ or the group of wireless devices104 ₃ and 104 ₄, wherein the one or more transport block formats meet acoverage class need of the wireless device 104 ₂ or the group ofwireless devices 104 ₃ and 104 ₄(e.g., the wireless devices 104 ₃ and104 ₄ have the same coverage class).

In one embodiment, the wireless access node 102 ₂ has device-relatedinformation 205 for the wireless device 1042. In this case, the wirelessaccess node 102 ₂ at step 204 transmits a message 207 including thedevice-related information 205 to the wireless device 104 ₂ utilizingone of the one or more transport block formats specifically determinedbased at least in part on the coverage class need of the wireless device104 ₂ (illustrated in FIG. 1). As an example, if the wireless device 104₂ has a coverage class of “1” then the wireless access node 102 ₂ woulddetermine a transport block format to be utilized specifically for thewireless device 104 ₂ that has a specific number of payload bits,modulation type, coding rate, time duration etc . . . and no repetitionsbased at least in part on the coverage class “1” (e.g., the coverageclass “1” corresponds to an initial transmission and no repetitions).The wireless access node 102 ₂ then transmits the message 207 includingthe device-related information 205 to the wireless device 104 ₂utilizing the determined transport block format (illustrated in FIG. 1).

In the same embodiment, the wireless access node 102 ₂ hasdevice-related information 209 for the group of wireless devices 104 ₃and 104 ₄. In this case, the wireless access node 102 ₂ at step 204transmits a message 211 including the device-related information 209 tothe group of wireless devices 104 ₃ and 104 ₄ utilizing one of the oneor more transport block formats specifically determined based at leastin part on the coverage class need of the group of wireless devices 1043and 104 ₄ (illustrated in FIG. 1). As an example, if the group ofwireless devices 104 ₃ and 104 ₄ have a coverage class of “2” then thewireless access node 102 ₂ would determine a transport block format tobe utilized specifically for the the group of wireless devices 104 ₃ and104 ₄ that has a specific number of payload bits, modulation type,coding rate, time duration etc . . . and one repetition based at leastin part on the coverage class “2” (e.g., the coverage class “2”corresponds to an initial transmission and one repetition). The wirelessaccess node 102 ₂ then transmits the message 211 including thedevice-related information 209 to the group of wireless devices 104 ₃and 104 ₄ utilizing the determined transport block format (illustratedin FIG. 1).

In an alternative embodiment, the wireless access node 102 ₂ hasdevice-related information 209 for the group of wireless devices 104 ₃and 104 ₄, and the wireless access node 102 ₂ instead of performing step204 could perform steps 206, 208, 210, 212 and 214. More specifically,in this alternative embodiment, the wireless access node 102 ₂ at step202 determines a plurality of transport block formats to be utilized fortransmitting the device-related information 209 on the common DL channelto the group of wireless devices 104 ₃ and 104 ₄. The wireless accessnode 102 ₂ at step 206 would identify common information 213 included inthe device-related information 209 applicable to the group of wirelessdevices 104 ₃ and 104 ₄, and transmit at step 208 a message 215including the common information 213 to the group of wireless devices104 ₃ and 104 ₄ utilizing one of the plurality of transport blockformats that is decodable by the group of wireless devices 104 ₃ and 104₄ (illustrated in FIG. 1). Further, the wireless access node 102 ₂ wouldidentify at step 210 device-specific information 217 a and 217 bincluded in the device-related information 209 applicable to eachindividual wireless device 104 ₃ and 104 ₄ in the group of wirelessdevices 104 ₃ and 104 ₄, and transmit at step 212 individual messages219 a and 219 b including the device-specific information 217 a and 217b to the respective individual wireless devices 104 ₃ and 104 ₄utilizing more than one of the plurality of transport block formats thatare applicable to the respective individual wireless devices 104 ₃ and104 ₄ (illustrated in FIG. 1). It is to be noted that the transportblock format utilized to transmit the message 215 including the commoninformation 213 to the group of wireless devices 104 ₃ and 104 ₄ can bethe same as or different from at least one of the transport blockformats utilized to transmit the individual messages 219 a and 219 bincluding the device-specific information 217 a and 217 b to therespective individual wireless devices 104 ₃ and 104 ₄. If desired, thewireless access node 102 ₂ at step 214 can add information 221 in themessage 215 including the common information 213 and in each of theindividual messages 219 a and 219 b including the device-specificinformation 217 a and 217 b that enables each of the individual wirelessdevices 104 ₃ and 104 ₄ to uniquely identify the message 215 includingthe common information 213 that corresponds to its respective individualmessage 219 a and 219 b including the device-specific information 217 aand 217 b.

As an example, if the wireless devices 104 ₃ and 104 ₄ each have acoverage class of “2” then the wireless access node 102 ₂ woulddetermine a transport block format to be utilized specifically for thewireless devices 104 ₃ and 104 ₄ that has a specific number of payloadbits for the common information 213, modulation type, coding rate, timeduration etc . . . and one repetition based at least in part on thecoverage class “2” (e.g., the coverage class “2” corresponds to aninitial transmission and one repetition). In addition, the wirelessaccess node 102 ₂ would determine a transport block format to beutilized specifically for the wireless device 104 ₃ that has a specificnumber of payload bits for the device-specific information 217 a,modulation type, coding rate, time duration etc . . . and one repetitionbased at least in part on the coverage class “2”. Plus, the wirelessaccess node 102 ₂ would determine a transport block format to beutilized specifically for the wireless device 104 ₄ that has a specificnumber of payload bits for the device-specific information 217 b,modulation type, coding rate, time duration etc . . . and one repetitionbased at least in part on the coverage class “2”. The wireless accessnode 102 ₂ then transmits the message 215 including the commoninformation 213 (possibly including the added information 221) to thewireless devices 104 ₃ and 104 ₄ utilizing the specially determinedtransport block format (illustrated in FIG. 1). Plus, the wirelessaccess node 102 ₂ would transmit the message 219 a including thedevice-specific information 217 a (possibly including the addedinformation 221) to the wireless device 104 ₃ utilizing the speciallydetermined transport block format (illustrated in FIG. 1). It is to benoted that the transport block formats used to transmit the messages 215and 219 a can be the same or different. Finally, the wireless accessnode 102 ₂ would transmit the message 219 b including thedevice-specific information 217 b (possibly including the addedinformation 221) to the wireless device 104 ₄ utilizing the speciallydetermined transport block format (illustrated in FIG. 1). It is to benoted that the transport block formats used to transmit the messages 215and 219 b can be the same or different.

Referring to FIG. 3, there is a block diagram illustrating structures ofan exemplary wireless access node 102 ₂ (for example) for improving abandwidth utilization efficiency on a common DL channel whentransmitting device-related information to a wireless device 104 ₂ (forexample) or a group of wireless devices 104 ₃ and 104 ₄ (for example) inaccordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. The wirelessaccess node 102 ₂ may comprise a determine module 302, a first transmitmodule 304, a first identify module 306, a second transmit module 308, asecond identify module 310, a third transmit module 312, and an addmodule 314. The determine module 302 is configured to determine one ormore transport block formats to be utilized for transmitting thedevice-related information on the common DL channel to the wirelessdevice 104 ₂ or the group of wireless devices 104 ₃ and 104 ₄, whereinthe one or more transport block formats meet a coverage class need ofthe wireless device 104 ₂ or the group of wireless devices 104 ₃ and 104₄. In one embodiment, if the wireless access node 102 ₂ hasdevice-related information 205 for the wireless device 104 ₂, then thefirst transmit module 304 is configured to transmit a message 207including the device-related information 205 to the wireless device 104₂ utilizing one of the one or more transport block formats specificallydetermined based at least in part on the coverage class need of thewireless device 1042 (illustrated in FIG. 1). In the same embodiment, ifthe wireless access node 102 ₂ has device-related information 209 forthe group of wireless devices 104 ₃ and 104 ₄ (e.g., having the samecoverage class), then the first transmit module 304 is configured totransmit a message 211 including the device-related information 209 tothe group of wireless devices 104 ₃ and 104 ₄ utilizing one of the oneor more transport block formats specifically determined based at leastin part on the coverage class need of the group of wireless devices 104₃ and 104 ₄ (illustrated in FIG. 1).

The determine module 302 may determine a plurality of transport blockformats to be utilized for transmitting the device-related information209 on the common DL channel to the group of wireless devices 104 ₃ and104 ₄. In an alternative embodiment, if the wireless access node 102 ₂has device-related information 209 for the group of wireless devices104₃ and 104 ₄, then the first identify module 306 is configured toidentify common information 213 included in the device-relatedinformation 209 for the group of wireless devices 104 ₃ and 104 ₄, andthe second transmit module 308 is configured to transmit a message 215including the common information 213 to the group of wireless devices104 ₃ and 104 ₄ utilizing one of the plurality of transport blockformats that is decodable by the group of wireless devices 104 ₃ and 104₄ (illustrated in FIG. 1). Further, the second identify module 310 isconfigured to identify device-specific information 217 a and 217 bincluded in the device-related information 209 applicable to eachindividual wireless device 104 ₃ and 104 ₄ in the group of wirelessdevices 104 ₃ and 104 ₄, and the third transmit module 312 is configuredto transmit individual messages 219 a and 219 b including thedevice-specific information 217 a and 217 b to the respective individualwireless devices 104 ₃ and 104 ₄ utilizing more than one of theplurality of transport block formats that are applicable to therespective individual wireless devices 104 ₃ and 104 ₄ (illustrated inFIG. 1). It is to be noted that the transport block format utilized totransmit the message 215 including the common information 213 to thegroup of wireless devices 104 ₃ and 104 ₄ can be the same as ordifferent from the transport block formats utilized to transmit theindividual messages 219 a and 219 b including the device-specificinformation 217 a and 217 b to the respective individual wirelessdevices 104 ₃ and 104 ₄. The add module 314 is configured to addinformation 221 in the message 215 including the common information 213and in each of the individual messages 219 a and 219 b including thedevice-specific information 217 a and 217 b that enables each of theindividual wireless devices 104 ₃ and 104 ₄ to uniquely identify themessage 215 including the common information 213 that corresponds to itsrespective individual message 219 a and 219 b including thedevice-specific information 217 a and 217 b.

As those skilled in the art will appreciate, the above-described modules302, 304, 306, 308, 310, 312, and 314 of the wireless access node 102 ₂may be implemented separately as suitable dedicated circuits. Further,the modules 302, 304, 306, 308, 310, 312, and 314 can also beimplemented using any number of dedicated circuits through functionalcombination or separation. In some embodiments, the modules 302, 304,306, 308, 310, 312, and 314 may be even combined in a single applicationspecific integrated circuit (ASIC). As an alternative software-basedimplementation, the wireless access node 102 ₂ may comprise a memory 134₂, a processor 132 ₂ (including but not limited to a microprocessor, amicrocontroller or a Digital Signal Processor (DSP), etc.) and atransmitter128 ₂. The memory 1342 stores machine-readable program codeexecutable by the processor 132 ₂ that cause the wireless access node102 ₂ to perform the steps of the above-described method 200. It is tobe noted that the wireless access nodes 102 ₁ and 102 ₂ and otherwireless access nodes can be configured to implement the above-describedmethod 200.

Referring to FIG. 4, there is a flowchart of a method 400 implemented ina wireless device 104 ₂, 104 ₃ or 104 ₄ (for example) for improving abandwidth utilization efficiency on a common DL channel when receivingdevice-related information from a wireless access node 102 ₂ (forexample) in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. Atstep 402, the wireless device 104 ₂, 104 ₃ or 104 ₄ receives one or moremessages 207, 211, 215, 219 a and 219 b including the device-relatedinformation on the common DL channel from the wireless access node 102₂, wherein the one or more messages 207, 211, 215, 219 a and 219 b haveone or more transport block formats that meet a coverage class need ofthe wireless device 104 ₂, 104 ₃ or 104 ₄. In one embodiment, thewireless device 104 ₂ receives at step 402 a the device-relatedinformation 205 included in message 207 having one transport blockformat based at least in part on the coverage class of the wirelessdevice 1042. In the same embodiment, the wireless device 104 ₃ receivesat step 402 a the device-related information 209 included in message 211having one transport block format based at least in part on the coverageclass of the wireless device 104 ₃.

At step 402, the wireless device 104 ₂, 104 ₃ or 104 ₄ may receive aplurality of messages including the device-related information, whereinthe plurality of messages has a plurality of transport block formats. Inan alternative embodiment, the wireless device 104 ₃ receives at step402 b the common information 213 included in message 215 having one ofthe plurality of transport block formats based at least in part on thecoverage class of the wireless device 104 ₃. In addition, the wirelessdevice 104 ₃ receives at step 402 c the device-specific information 217a included in message 219 a having one of the plurality of transportblock formats based at least in part on the coverage class of thewireless device 1043. It is to be noted that the transport block formatsused for messages 215 and 219 a can be the same or different. Plus, thewireless device 104 ₃ at step 402 d identifies information 221 in themessage 215 including the common information 213 and the message 219 aincluding the device-specific information 217 a that enables thewireless device 104 ₃ to uniquely identify the message 215 including thecommon information 213 that corresponds to the message 219 a includingthe device-specific information 217 a. In one embodiment, the wirelessdevices 104 ₄ receives at step 402 a the device-related information 209included in message 211 having one transport block format based at leastin part on the coverage class of the wireless device 104 ₄. In analternative embodiment, the wireless device 104 ₄ receives at step 402 bthe common information 213 included in message 215 having one of theplurality of transport block formats based at least in part on thecoverage class of the wireless device 104 ₄. In addition, the wirelessdevice 104 ₄ receives at step 402 c the device-specific information 217b included in message 219 b having one of the plurality of transportblock formats based at least in part on the coverage class of thewireless device 104 ₄. It is to be noted that the transport blockformats used for messages 215 and 219 b can be the same or different.Plus, the wireless device 104 ₄ at step 402 d identifies information 221in the message 215 including the common information 213 and the message219 b including the device-specific information 217 b that enables thewireless device 104 ₄ to uniquely identify the message 215 including thecommon information 213 that corresponds to the message 219 b includingthe device-specific information 217 b.

Referring to FIG. 5, there is a block diagram illustrating structures ofan exemplary wireless device 104 ₂, 104 ₃ or 104 ₄ (for example) forimproving a bandwidth utilization efficiency on a common DL channel whenreceiving device-related information from the wireless access node 102 ₂(for example) in accordance with an embodiment of the presentdisclosure. The wireless device 104 ₂, 104 ₃ or 104 ₄ (for example) maycomprise a receive module 502, a first receive module 502 a, a secondreceive module 502 b, a third receive module 502 c, and an identifymodule 502 d. The receive module 502 is configured to receive one ormore messages 207, 211, 215, 219 a and 219 b including thedevice-related information on the common DL channel from the wirelessaccess node 102 ₂, wherein the one or more messages 207, 211, 215, 219 aand 219 b have one or more transport block formats that meet a coverageclass need of the wireless device 104 ₂, 104 ₃ or 104 ₄. In oneembodiment, the wireless device 104 ₂ comprises the first receive module502 a that is configured to receive the device-related information 205included in message 207 having one transport block format based at leastin part on the coverage class of the wireless device 104 ₂. In oneembodiment, the wireless device 104 ₃ comprises the first receive module502 a that is configured to receive the device-related information 209included in message 211 having one transport block format based at leastin part on the coverage class of the wireless device 104 ₃.

The receive module 502 may receive a plurality of messages including thedevice-related information, wherein the plurality of messages has aplurality of transport block formats. In an alternative embodiment, thewireless device 104 ₃ comprises the second receive module 502 b that isconfigured to receive the common information 213 included in message 215having one of the plurality of transport block formats based at least inpart on the coverage class of the wireless device 104 ₃. In addition,the wireless device 104 ₃ comprises the third receive module 502 c thatis configured to receive the device-specific information 217 a includedin message 219 a having one of the plurality of transport block formatsbased at least in part on the coverage class of the wireless device 104₃. It is to be noted that the transport block formats used for messages215 and 219 a can be the same or different. Plus, the wireless device104 ₃ comprises the identify module 502 d that is configured to identifyinformation 221 in the message 215 including the common information 213and the message 219 a including the device-specific information 217 athat enables the wireless device 104 ₃ to uniquely identify the message215 including the common information 213 that corresponds to the message219 a including the device-specific information 217 a.

In one embodiment, the wireless device 104 ₄ comprises the first receivemodule 502 a that is configured to receive the device-relatedinformation 209 included in message 211 having one transport blockformat based at least in part on the coverage class of the wirelessdevice 1043. In an alternative embodiment, the wireless device 104 ₄comprises the second receive module 502 b that is configured to receivethe common information 213 included in message 215 having one of theplurality of transport block formats based at least in part on thecoverage class of the wireless device 104 ₄. In addition, the wirelessdevice 104 ₄ comprises the third receive module 502 c that is configuredto receive the device-specific information 217 b included in message 219b having one of the plurality of transport block formats based at leastin part on the coverage class of the wireless device 104 ₄. It is to benoted that the transport block formats used for messages 215 and 219 bcan be the same or different. Plus, the wireless device 104 ₄ comprisesthe identify module 502 d that is configured to identify information 221in the message 215 including the common information 213 and the message219 b including the device-specific information 217 b that enables thewireless device 104 ₄ to uniquely identify the message 215 including thecommon information 213 that corresponds to the message 219 b includingthe device-specific information 217 b.

As those skilled in the art will appreciate, the above-described modules502, 502 a, 502 b, 502 c and 502 d of the wireless device 104 ₂, 104 ₃or 104 ₄ (for example) may be implemented separately as suitablededicated circuits. Further, the modules 502, 502 a, 502 b, 502 c and502 d can also be implemented using any number of dedicated circuitsthrough functional combination or separation. In some embodiments, themodules 502, 502 a, 502 b, 502 c and 502 d may be even combined in asingle application specific integrated circuit (ASIC). As an alternativesoftware-based implementation, the wireless device 104 ₂, 104 ₃ or 104 ₄(for example) may comprise a memory 120 ₂, 120 ₃ and 120 ₄, a processor118 ₂, 118 ₃ and 118 ₄ (including but not limited to a microprocessor, amicrocontroller or a Digital Signal Processor (DSP), etc.) and receiver116 ₂, 116 ₃ and 116 ₄. The memory 120 ₂, 120 ₃ and 120 ₄ storesmachine-readable program code executable by the processor 118 ₂, 118 ₃and 118 ₄ that cause the wireless device 104 ₂, 104 ₃ or 104 ₄ (forexample) to perform the steps of the above-described method 400. It isto be noted that the wireless devices 104 ₁, 104 ₂, 104 ₃, 104 ₄. . .104 n and other wireless devices can be configured to implement theabove-described method 400.

Application to GSM Wireless Communication Network 1. Paging Channel(PCH)

In one embodiment, the above techniques are applied to the GSM wirelesscommunication network and the PCH channel, part of the CCCH in the DL.The current PCH can at most carry paging-related information to fourwireless devices addressed within a PCH message. The default transportblock format used by GSM today for sending PCH messages is known as aradio block, containing 23 octets of payload space (mapped into 456 bitsafter cyclic redundancy check (CRC) addition and encoding). A radioblock consists of four normal bursts, each occupying one timeslot in theTDMA frame structure in GSM. Furthermore, the transport block formatconsists of using Gaussian Minimum Shift Keying (GMSK) modulation and acode rate provided by coding scheme CS-1 to convey the information tothe wireless devices.

In the following discussion, it is assumed that the changes to thelegacy transport block format needed for the new transport block formatproposed pursuant to the present disclosure involves:

-   -   1. Reduced time duration from a four burst radio block to as        little as a single burst radio block.    -   2. Reduced payload information per transport block. Different        mechanisms may be used to reduce the size of PCH messages. For        example, the ‘type of identity’ in a paging message may be fixed        to a Packet Temporary Mobile Station Identity (P-TMSI). As        Temporary Mobile Station Identity (TMSI) is 32 bits only, only        32 bits will be needed in the Mobile Identity information        element field (e.g., ‘MS identity’ in paging message) to address        the MS using P-TMSI. Thus, using P-TMSI will help to reduce the        total number of information bits that need to be carried within        the transport block.    -   3. Allowing for a variable number of transport block repetitions        to reflect the radio channel conditions specific to each of the        N wireless devices to be paged. It is to be noted that it is        possible to adapt the number of transport block repetitions        dynamically, for example, according to device-specific radio        channel quality (e.g., detected or based on ongoing        device-specific feedback received) or according to a fixed        coverage class associated with a given wireless device.

2. PCH Example

The following properties of the transport block format are assumed to bethe same for this example as for the current (i.e., legacy) PCH:

-   -   1. Modulation used (i.e., GMSK)    -   2. Code rate used (i.e., around ½). It is assumed that a one        burst radio block and a four burst radio block of roughly the        same code rate provide roughly the same performance. This is        supported by the simulation results illustrated in the graph        shown in FIG. 6 where the performance of a four burst radio        block carrying 184 information bits is compared to a one burst        radio block carrying different amounts of information bits. The        results where simulated over a slowly moving, non-hopping        channel with a Doppler spread of around 1 Hz.

Further, it is assumed that the four users (wireless devices)multiplexed in the current PCH block need 1, 4, 8, and 2 repetitions,respectively, for user 1, 2, 3, and 4.

Hence, the current PCH consisting of 4 bursts per radio blocktransmitted needs to be transmitted 8 times to ensure the decoding(i.e., reception performance) of user 3 (i.e., the user with the worstradio channel conditions, in this example), and hence, in total 8*4=32normal bursts need to be transmitted. If instead, the modulation andcode rate above are followed, but within the context of the newdevice-specific transport block format techniques described in thepresent disclosure, then the same information could be carried with1+4+8+2=15 bursts. Hence, a bandwidth reduction of 53% is achieved.

More detailed simulations have also been performed where the probabilityof a wireless device needing extended coverage (i.e., more than a singlerepetition) is assumed to be 20%, and within that 20%, the number ofrepetitions needed for different levels of extended coverage is:

-   -   10%: 2 transmissions    -   5%: 4 transmissions    -   3%: 8 transmissions    -   2%: 16 transmissions

In the case of using the disclosed techniques proposed in the presentdisclosure, the average resource utilization is: (0.8*1 burst)+[(0.1*2bursts)+(0.05*4 bursts)+(0.03*8 bursts)+(0.02*16 bursts)]=1.76 bursts.However, if assuming multiplexing of four users (wireless devices) inthe same paging block as per current operation (i.e., the BroadcastControl Channel (BCCH) makes no attempt to address wireless devices ofthe same or similar coverage class within the same paging block), thenthe corresponding resource utilization, when using the current 4 burstPCH block, is 3.7 bursts. Even though users (wireless devices) needing16 repetitions are rare in the system, these users will, when pairedwith three other users in the same block, most probably be paired withusers needing only a single repetition. For those users needing only asingle repetition, the number of repetitions used is a vast waste ofradio resources. In this example, the bandwidth saving with the newtransport block formats of the present disclosure is around 53%.

The use of the new transport block formats pursuant to the presentdisclosure will effectively generate a quadrupling of the number ofpaging groups associated with any given coverage class for any givenDiscontinuous Reception (DRX) cycle, since repetitions will be performedon the burst level instead of at the radio block level. For example, awireless device needing eight repetitions and using a DRX cycle ofapproximately one minute will result in the following:

-   -   DRX cycle=256 51-multiframes ˜60 sec (208 DRX cycles within the        overall frame number (FN) space).    -   PCH blocks (4 bursts each) per DRX cycle=PB_DRX_CYCLE=256*        8=2048.    -   Paging groups per DRX        cycle=PG_DRX_CYCLE=(PB_DRX_CYCLE*4)/8=1024.    -   No inherent difficulty is seen to arise from a paging group        perspective when using the new burst based transport block        format described herein.

3. Managing Common Information on the PCH

PCH messages currently contain information common to all wirelessdevices including the set of N wireless devices to be paged within thatPCH message (e.g., implicit reject information and Earthquake andTsunami Warning System (ETWS) information) as well as device-specificinformation (e.g., MS identification such as P-TMSI). If the commoninformation is not sent separately from the device-specific information,then together their payload space could be large enough to need areduced channel coding rate for the transport blocks used to send them,and thereby result in a reduced BLER performance for these transportblocks, as illustrated in FIG. 6. As such, from a transport block BLERperspective, it may be beneficial if the common information is sentusing transport blocks separate from transport blocks used to send the Ninstances of device-specific information as described in the presentdisclosure. This can be realized, for example, using one or more of thetechnical features of the present disclosure as follows:

-   -   Identify the common information applicable to a set of N        wireless devices that need to be paged and send the common        information using a transport block format that all N devices        can decode;    -   Send each of the N instances of device-specific information        using an applicable transport block format. The device-specific        information could also include, for example, a flag indicating        whether or not the wireless device needs to still acquire common        information, since the common information could be semi-static        and therefore may not have changed since the last time the        common information was read by the wireless device; and    -   Include information in each of the transport block formats used        to send the device-specific information and in the transport        block format used to send the common information that enables        each of the N wireless devices to uniquely identify which common        information corresponds to its device-specific information.

Using the previous example where four users (wireless devices) are to bepaged and respectively need 1, 4, 8, and 2 repetitions, there will be 15transport blocks including device-specific information and 8 transportblocks including the common information, where all 23 transport blocks(bursts) maintain payload space specific transport block BLERperformance, as illustrated in FIG. 6. This is still a large improvement(i.e., 28% fewer bursts needed) compared to the 32 bursts that wouldneed to be transmitted using the legacy transport block format, whereineach PCH block consists of 4 bursts and is repeated 8 times.

3.1 Management of PCH Resources

In today's GSM wireless communication network, the base station (BS)needs to send valid layer 3 messages continuously on all pagingsub-channels on the CCCH. However, when wireless devices of differentcoverage classes monitor the same physical resource for layer 3messages, it might turn out that wireless device B of a device classexperiencing better coverage than the corresponding class for wirelessdevice A (i.e., implying, for example, that less repetitions are neededto reach the wireless device B) is sent a layer 3 message using one ormore radio blocks that include radio block(s) of wireless device A'spaging group. Although these paging messages will not include a layer 3message addressing wireless device A, it is of interest for wirelessdevice A to decode the radio block sent from the BS to get aconfirmation that wireless device A is still connected to a suitablecell and that wireless device A is still monitoring a correct CCCH.However, wireless device A will not be able to correctly decode theradio block unless the radio block is transmitted using a sufficientlyhigh number of repetitions.

3.2 Overload Control Management Using PCH Resources

In addition, wireless devices may still need to be subject to anoverload control mechanism, e.g., the legacy Implicit Reject feature, inwhich the wireless devices first need to read a PCH/Access Grant Channel(AGCH) message (sent to any wireless device) to obtain access permissionrelated information prior to attempting a system access.

When sending information on a CCCH, the network takes into accountwireless devices associated with the highest coverage class (e.g.,needing 16 repetitions) since these wireless devices may be monitoringthe channel. This can be realized by ensuring a certain minimumperiodicity with which this information (e.g., overload control, validLayer 3 header) is sent using the transport formats needed by thesewireless devices. For example, the network can periodically sendImplicit Reject information as common information using a transportblock format appropriate for 16 repetitions regardless of whether or notthe network needs to send information to any specific high coverageclass wireless device at that point in time.

4. Access Grant Channel (AGCH)

Support for new transport block formats used for sending messages on theAGCH per the present disclosure can be realized in the same manner asdescribed above for PCH messages, since the same payload volumedependent BLER performance applies as illustrated in FIG. 6. Onedifference may be that the volume of common information associated withan AGCH message sent using legacy procedures can be expected to besignificantly larger than for a PCH message. As such, for the AGCH case,there may be an even greater incentive for sending common information(i.e., information applicable to a set of N wireless devices looking foran AGCH message) using a transport block format that all N wirelessdevices can decode per the present disclosure.

5. Packet Timing Control Channel/Downlink (PTCCH/D)

In one embodiment, the above techniques of the present disclosure can beapplied to the PTCCH/D channel, which is used to support the ContinuousTiming Advance (TA) procedure in GSM for all wireless devices (MSs) inpacket transfer mode, as described in 3GPP TS 45.010 V11.0.0, entitled“Technical Specification Group GSM/EDGE Radio Access Network; Radiosubsystem synchronization (Release 11).” The contents of this documentare hereby incorporated by reference.

The PTCCH/D can at most carry eight bits of TA related information to 16wireless devices (users) addressed by the same radio block. The defaulttransport block format used by GSM today is to transmit the PTCCH/D overa radio block consisting of four normal bursts, each occupying onetimeslot distributed evenly over two 52-multi-frames. The transportblock format consists of using GMSK modulation and a code rate providedby coding scheme CS-1 to convey the information to the wireless device'sreceiver.

However, per the present disclosure, the transmit time duration of thePTCCH/D is reduced from a four burst radio block to a single burst radioblock. In the single burst format, at least four wireless devices(users) using eight bits of TA information can be addressed. Over fourbursts, the numbers of addressed wireless devices (users) are at least16, as today.

In another embodiment of the present disclosure, up to six users usingeight bits of TA information can be supported per burst, with the samecode rate as today (i.e., as defined by coding scheme CS-1). Thesimulation results illustrated in FIG. 6 for the PCH are applicable alsoto the PTCCH/D.

In another embodiment of the present disclosure, where less than eightbits of TA information are transmitted per wireless device (user), thecode rate can be made more robust than coding scheme CS-1 to improvelink level performance, and/or to lower the number of repetitions neededin an extended coverage scenario. Alternatively, the number of wirelessdevices (users) supported by a single burst can be extended beyond six.

In yet another embodiment of the present disclosure, the number ofrepetitions for the single burst format used in an extended coveragescenario is adapted, e.g., according to the need of the wireless devices(users) addressed in the single burst format. Groupings of wirelessdevices (users) with similar or the same coverage class needs willminimize the total number of burst transmissions in the Continuous TAprocedure. In contrast to the PTCCH/D block multiplexing scheme usedtoday, where each wireless device assigned the same physical channel(i.e., where the PTCCH/D is mapped) monitors each PTCCH/D block on thatchannel, the PTCCH/D channel when mixing wireless devices (users) ofdifferent coverage classes will have to be assigned such that wirelessdevices know or can determine which radio resources are applicable andwith which periodicity the radio resources should be read.

An alternative approach to realizing PTCCH/D for extended coverage inaccordance with the present disclosure is to provide an update intervalof the TA information, for example, according to the worst coverageclass wireless devices. In one example, the worst coverage class needs16 repetitions. In this case, each PTCCH block (addressing all wirelessdevices as per current operation) may only change TA information every16th PTCCH/D block interval.

SUMMARY

A scenario addressed by the present disclosure is where N wirelessdevices are performing procedures during which the N wireless devicesare attempting to read information (e.g., messages) on the DL of acommon channel within the same time interval and the network introducesnew transport block formats in the DL of a common channel to send the Nwireless devices information (e.g., messages) in a way that satisfiesthe specific coverage class needs of these N wireless devices and thatwill result in the ability to realize a significantly improvedutilization of the bandwidth available on the common DL channel whencompared to the case where the wireless devices are simply assumed to bein the worst coverage class. In addition, another scenario discussedherein considers the case where information that is common to all Nwireless devices is identified and sent using transport blocks that areseparate from transport blocks used to send device-specific information,thereby allowing the use of fewer radio resources when compared to whatwould be required without such separation of information. Finally, animproved power saving for wireless devices reading the common channelcan be realized since the use of these new transport formats results infewer bursts being read and processed, especially for the wirelessdevices in the best coverage class (e.g., coverage class 1 wherein onlya single initial transmission/reception is needed).

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the use of the term“exemplary” is used herein to mean “illustrative,” or “serving as anexample,” and is not intended to imply that a particular embodiment ispreferred over another or that a particular feature is essential.Likewise, the terms “first” and “second,” and similar terms, are usedsimply to distinguish one particular instance of an item or feature fromanother, and do not indicate a particular order or arrangement, unlessthe context clearly indicates otherwise. Further, the term “step,” asused herein, is meant to be synonymous with “operation” or “action.” Anydescription herein of a sequence of steps does not imply that theseoperations must be carried out in a particular order, or even that theseoperations are carried out in any order at all, unless the context orthe details of the described operation clearly indicates otherwise.

Of course, the present disclosure may be carried out in other specificways than those herein set forth without departing from the scope andessential characteristics of the invention. One or more of the specificprocesses discussed above may be carried out in a cellular phone orother communications transceiver comprising one or more appropriatelyconfigured processing circuits, which may in some embodiments beembodied in one or more application-specific integrated circuits(ASICs). In some embodiments, these processing circuits may comprise oneor more microprocessors, microcontrollers, and/or digital signalprocessors programmed with appropriate software and/or firmware to carryout one or more of the operations described above, or variants thereof.In some embodiments, these processing circuits may comprise customizedhardware to carry out one or more of the functions described above. Thepresent embodiments are, therefore, to be considered in all respects asillustrative and not restrictive.

Although multiple embodiments of the present disclosure have beenillustrated in the accompanying Drawings and described in the foregoingDetailed Description, it should be understood that the invention is notlimited to the disclosed embodiments, but instead is also capable ofnumerous rearrangements, modifications and substitutions withoutdeparting from the present disclosure that as has been set forth anddefined within the following claims.

1. A wireless access node configured to improve a bandwidth utilizationefficiency on a common downlink (DL) channel when transmittingdevice-related information to a wireless device or a group of wirelessdevices, the wireless access node comprising: a processor; and, a memorythat stores processor-executable instructions, wherein the processorinterfaces with the memory to execute the processor-executableinstructions, whereby the wireless access node is operable to determineone or more transport block formats to be utilized for transmitting thedevice-related information on the common DL channel to the wirelessdevice or the group of wireless devices, wherein the one or moretransport block formats requiring a number of repeated transmissions ofthe device-related information on the common DL channel to meet acurrent coverage class of the wireless device or a coverage class commonto the group of wireless devices.
 2. The wireless access node of claim1, wherein the wireless access node is further operable to: transmit amessage including the device-related information to the wireless deviceor the group of wireless devices utilizing one of the one or moretransport block formats.
 3. The wireless access node of claim 1, whereina plurality of transport block formats is determined to be utilized fortransmitting the device-related information on the common DL channel tothe group of wireless devices, and wherein the wireless access node isfurther operable to: identify common information included in thedevice-related information applicable to the group of wireless devices,and transmit a message including the common information to the group ofwireless devices utilizing one of the plurality of transport blockformats that is decodable by the group of wireless devices; and,identify device-specific information included in the device-relatedinformation applicable to each individual wireless device in the groupof wireless devices, and transmit individual messages including thedevice-specific information to the respective individual wirelessdevices utilizing more than one of the plurality of transport blockformats that are applicable to the respective individual wirelessdevices.
 4. The wireless access node of claim 3, wherein the one of theplurality of transport block formats utilized to transmit the messageincluding the common information to the group of wireless devices is thesame as at least one of the more than one of the plurality of transportblock formats utilized to transmit the individual messages including thedevice-specific information to the respective individual wirelessdevices.
 5. The wireless access node of claim 3, wherein the wirelessaccess node, before transmitting the message including the commoninformation and before transmitting the individual messages includingthe device-specific information, is further operable to: add informationin the message including the common information and in each of theindividual messages including the device-specific information, whereinthe added information enables each of the individual wireless devices touniquely identify the message including the common information thatcorresponds to its respective individual message including thedevice-specific information.
 6. A method in a wireless access node forimproving a bandwidth utilization efficiency on a common downlink (DL)channel when transmitting device-related information to a wirelessdevice or a group of wireless devices, the method comprising:determining one or more transport block formats to be utilized fortransmitting the device-related information on the common DL channel tothe wireless device or the group of wireless devices, wherein the one ormore transport block formats requiring a number of repeatedtransmissions of the device-related information on the common DL channelto meet a current coverage class of the wireless device or a coverageclass common to the group of wireless devices.
 7. The method of claim 6,further comprising: transmitting a message including the device-relatedinformation to the wireless device or the group of wireless devicesutilizing one of the one or more transport block formats.
 8. The methodof claim 6, wherein a plurality of transport block formats is determinedto be utilized for transmitting the device-related information on thecommon DL channel to the group of wireless devices, and the methodfurther comprises: identifying common information included in thedevice-related information applicable to the group of wireless devices,and transmitting a message including the common information to the groupof wireless devices utilizing one of the plurality of transport blockformats that is decodable by the group of wireless devices; and,identifying device-specific information included in the device-relatedinformation applicable to each individual wireless device in the groupof wireless devices, and transmitting individual messages including thedevice-specific information to the respective individual wirelessdevices utilizing more than one of the plurality of transport blockformats that are applicable to the respective individual wirelessdevices.
 9. The method of claim 8, wherein the one of the plurality oftransport block formats utilized to transmit the message including thecommon information to the group of wireless devices is the same as atleast one of the more than one of the plurality of transport blockformats utilized to transmit the individual messages including thedevice-specific information to the respective individual wirelessdevices.
 10. The method of claim 8, wherein before transmitting themessage including the common information and the individual messagesincluding the device-specific information, the method further comprises:adding information in the message including the common information andin each of the individual messages including the device-specificinformation, wherein the added information enables each of theindividual wireless devices to uniquely identify the message includingthe common information that corresponds to its respective individualincluding containing the device-specific information.
 11. A wirelessdevice configured to improve a bandwidth utilization efficiency on acommon downlink (DL) channel when receiving device-related informationfrom a wireless access node, the wireless device comprising: aprocessor; and, a memory that stores processor-executable instructions,wherein the processor interfaces with the memory to execute theprocessor-executable instructions, whereby the wireless device isoperable to receive one or more messages including the device-relatedinformation on the common DL channel from the wireless access node,wherein the one or more messages being received a repeated number oftimes on the common DL channel as required by one or more transportblock formats defined to meet a current coverage class of the wirelessdevice.
 12. The wireless device of claim 11, wherein the wireless deviceis further operable to: receive the device-related information includedin one of the one or more messages having one of the one or moretransport block formats.
 13. The wireless device of claim 11, wherein aplurality of messages including the device-related information isreceived, wherein the plurality of messages has a plurality of transportblock formats, wherein the device-related information includes (1)common information applicable to the wireless device and one or moreother wireless devices, and (2) device-specific information applicableto the wireless device, and wherein the wireless device is furtheroperable to: receive the common information included in one of theplurality of messages having one of the plurality of transport blockformats; and receive the device-specific information included in anotherone of the plurality of messages having one of the plurality oftransport block formats.
 14. The wireless device of claim 13, whereinthe one of the plurality of transport block formats utilized to transmitthe one of the plurality of messages including the common information isthe same as the one of the plurality of transport block formats utilizedto transmit the one of the plurality of messages including thedevice-specific information.
 15. The wireless device of claim 13,wherein the wireless device is further operable to: identify informationin the one of the plurality of messages including the common informationand the one of the plurality of messages including the device-specificinformation, where the identified information uniquely identifies theone of the plurality of messages including the common information thatcorresponds to the one of the plurality of messages including thedevice-specific information.
 16. A method in a wireless device forimproving a bandwidth utilization efficiency on a common downlink (DL)channel when receiving device-related information from a wireless accessnode, the method comprising: receiving one or more messages includingthe device-related information on the common DL channel from thewireless access node, wherein the one or more messages being received arepeated number of times on the common DL channel as required by one ormore transport block formats defined to meet a current coverage class ofthe wireless device.
 17. The method of claim 16, further comprising:receiving the device-related information included in one of the one ormore messages having one of the one or more transport block formats. 18.The method of claim 16, wherein a plurality of messages including thedevice-related information is received, wherein the plurality ofmessages has a plurality of transport block formats, wherein thedevice-related information includes (1) common information applicable tothe wireless device and one or more other wireless devices, and (2)device-specific information applicable to the wireless device, and themethod further comprises: receiving the common information included inone of the plurality of messages having one of the plurality oftransport block formats; and receiving the device-specific informationincluded in another one of the plurality of messages having one of theplurality of transport block formats.
 19. The method of claim 18,wherein the one of the plurality of transport block formats utilized totransmit the one of the plurality of messages including the commoninformation is the same as the one of the plurality of transport blockformats utilized to transmit the one of the plurality of messagesincluding the device-specific information.
 20. The method of claim 18,further comprising: identifying information in the one of the pluralityof messages including the common information and the one of theplurality of messages including the device-specific information, wherethe identified information uniquely identifies the one of the pluralityof messages including the common information that corresponds to the oneof the plurality of messages including the device-specific information.